Russia bans pork imports from China

15-09-2011 | Home | News

Russian Federal Supervision Agency for Customer Protection and Human Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) imposed a temporary ban on the import of pork and pork processed products from China, reported the press-service of agency.

The reason for the suspension of import supplies from Chinese products has been due to clenbuterol, which was used in the production of pork in China by several pig farms. Eating pork containing this drug will have a negative impact on human health.

Additionally, clenbuterol is not included in the list of veterinary drugs approved for use in Russia. According to Rospotrebnadzor, as of 9 September 2011 the suspension took place for an indefinite period.

This is not the first time Chinese producers are found to be using the drug clenbuterol in pigs growing. Farmers add it in feed which allows fast muscle growth and helps to burn fat. In March this year the clenbuterol scandal made news headlines. The company Shuanghui Group – the largest pork producer in the country was found using the prohibited substance.

“Using clenbuterol is contradicting to generally accepted standards of veterinary and animal husbandry. As a result of a series of examinations held by our department it has been revealed that pork and pork processed products from China constitute a menace to the health of Russian consumers,” says the official statement of Rospotrebnadzor.

(By Vladislav Vorotnikov)